Folding-box blank



IVENTOR.

May'l4, 1929. E. P. WILLIAMS 1,713,154 FOLDING BOX BLANK Filed'May 17, 192e 7 I 3 8 6l .cg ,5; V /o v/0 8/ 9 94 '5 7 6 5&4 2 I Y t 1 l l .f f 8f 'fa 3 I' ll 7 'n 4l 1 l 3 'r) L 'l k #z3 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 14, 1929.

ELI P; WILLIAMS, F MCPHERSON, KANSAS.

FOLDING-Box BLANK.

Appncaiion inea May 17,

My invention relates to improvements in folding box blanks. It relates particularly to foldable blanks for making paper boxes, of the type having side and end members, adjacent ones of which overlap and are fastened together by a tongue on one member' provided With a head which is inserted through a slit in the other member for locking engagement therewith.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel blank of the kind described, which is simple, cheap, quickly and readily assembled to form a box Iin which the head of the tongue is overlapped on its inner and outer sides by the member through which it is extended, whereby the head is firmly held flat-- wise against the adjacent member.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel forni of slit which enables the head of the tongue to be easily inserted therethrough and by which the head forms a lock with the member having the slit with which the members are held securely together and are not liable to accidental detachmentfrom each other in handling or shipping. My invention provides further a box blan having'a member provided with a transverse slit through which the locking head of 'an adjacent member is insertible, the head en- 0 gaging the ends of the slit and projecting beyond the ends thereof. V l

The invention provides further a novel lock, which is strong, not easily torn and which affords smooth inner and outer sur- `faces without loose free flaps liable tointerfere with the application of a cover to the box.

The novel eatures of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention and a modification thereof,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of abox formed from one of my improved box blanks.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a corner portion of the box, shown being shown disengaged from locked engagement with the adjacent side member. a

Fig. 3 is a top view of one corner of the box.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the unfolded blank.

Similar reference characters designate similarparts in the different views. 1 designates the portion ofthe blank which -is to form the bottom of the box, or the top of the cover, when the box is used as a cover for a box.

2 designates end members foldably atthe tongue of the endv member" 1926. Serial No. 109,456.

tached to opposite ends respectively of the bottom portion 1 each end of each end member 2 having a foldable tongue 3 having a neck 4 and a head 5 which projects laterally at opposite edges of the neck.

6 designates two side members having foldable connection with the-bottom portion 1, and

provided each adjacent to its respective ends with two slits, each of which is unbifurcated and has a transverse portion 7, which, preferably, inclines from the bottom portion 1 and adjacent end of the member 6 toward the distant end of said member, and which at the end distant from the bottom portion 1 joins a portion 8 of the slit.

The portion 8 of each slit`extends from a point 9, spaced from the adjacent end of the member 6, toward the distant end of said member, and in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is joined by the portion 7 at the end of the portion 8 which is nearest the distant end of the member 6.

The portions 7 and 8 of each slit preferably form an acute angle and a lip 10.

In forming the box from the blank, the side members 6 and the end members 2 are folded in the usual manner to the upright positions, the heads 5 being inserted res ctively from the outer sides of the side memb-.rs 6 over the lips 10 and through the slits until the heads 'are disposed almost wholly within the box,

after which the end members 2 are pulled outwardly until the head 5 and opposite edges of the neck 4 of each end member lockingly engage the member 6 adjacent thereto at the ends of the slit through whichthe head is inserted. The heads 5 will now be overlapped on their inner sides respectively by the lips 10, Fig. 1, whereby the heads are held clam ed flatwise at their inner and 'outer sides y the membersv 6, so that, as the slit has no branches but is unbroken throughout,

there are no loose `free flaps that will pro'ectl laterally inwardly or outwardly to inter ere with the application of a cover, or which are liable to catchon adjacent thin with liability of tearing, or unlocking o the side and end members from eachother.

The distance between the ends of each slit is yapproximately the width ofgthe adjacent neck, and, as the head 5 projects above i'ljdbef low the ends of the transverse portion 7-of slit, a secure lock is eiected, see Fig. 1.

As the end member- 2, in forming the box,

vswings with the ad'acent end of the bottom 1 as an axis, andas t e portion 7 of the slit inlill-li clines from the bottom and toward the distant end of the side member 6, and forms an acute angle with the portion 8 of the slit, and as the radial distance from said axis to the most distant point on the periphery of the head 5 is substantially the same as the disL tancetrom said axis to the apex oi' the lip 10, that is the point where the portions 7 and 8 of the slit join, as shown in Figs. 2 and Il, the head 5 is easily inserted and then withdrawn to the locked position, without h aving to bend or distort the head. be effected, the ends ot' the slit are respectively approximately the same distances from the axis of the member 2 as are the points ot' j oinder ot' the head with the opposite edges of the neck.

By having the portion 7 ofthe slit intersect the portion 8 thereof at a pointispaced from the point 9, Figs. 1 to 4, there are no free flap portioifs formed by the slit at the outer side of the side member 6, after the head is inserted', as would occur in constructions in which the transverse portionjoins the longitudinal portion of the slit at the end thereot nearestthe adjacent end member.

I do not limit my invention Ito the structures shown. and described', as other modiica ln order that this may tions, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.,

W'hat I claim is A box blank having a bottom and two members having foldable connection therewith, one member having a tongue foldable over the other member and provided with a neck and a head which projects laterally from both edges ot' the neck, said other member having a .slit the ends of which are respectively the same distances approximately from the axis of the first named member as are the points of join der of the head with the edges of the neck,

said slit comprising two portions at an acute t angle to each other and meeting at a point substantially the same distance from said axis as is the most distant pointv on the periphery or' said'head, the distance between the ends of the slit being less than the width of said head at said points ol joinder, whereby said head is adapted for insertion, without bending, through said slit and to lock with said other member at both ends of said slit,

In testimony whereofv I have signed my name to thisspecification. 

